Straight beam adjustable jaw clamp



May 8, 1951 B. r. GRESSLEY STRAIGHT BEAM ADJUSTABLE JAW CLAMP Filed Jan. 5, 1948 w m E V H I Ben T. Gress/ey Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT BEAM ADJUSTABLE JAW CLAMP Bert T. Gressley, Cheney, Wash. Application January 5, 1948, Serial No. 571

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements, and structural refinements in adjustable clamps, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a clamp of the character herein described, such as may be conveniently and eifectively employed for supporting pouring forms in the formation of concrete curbs, walks, and similar structures.

The further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable clamp which, in addition to it primary purpose above outlined, may also be effectively employed for various other clamping purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable clamp which is simple in construction, which may be quickly and easily manipulated and which will not easily become damaged.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an adjustable clamp which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture and which is otherwise well adapted for the various purposes for which it may be used.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view, taken in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is the cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 1.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an adjustable clamp designated generally by the reference character iii, the same embodying in its construction a bar II having an I-shaped cross sectional configuration, as is best shown in Figure 5.

A pair of straps I2, I2 are welded or otherwise secured to the web 12 of the bar II, these straps projecting beyond one end of the bar and carrying a pivot pin I3. The projecting portion of one of the straps (I2') is enlarged to accommodate an arcuate slot M.

A downwardly extending arm I5 is formed in 2 the upper end portion thereof with an I-shaped opening It to slidably accommodate the bar II, that is to say, the arm I5 is slidable on the bar, as will be clearly apparent. If desired, the free end portion of the bar may be upturned so as to provide a stop H, which will prevent the arm l5 from sliding off the bar.

A downwardly arcuated extension I8 is mounted on the aforementioned pivot pin [3, the extension I8 being equipped with a clamping screw I9 which slidably and adjustably engages the aforementioned slot I4 of the strap l2.

The lower end portion of the extension I8 terminates in the forked extremity 20, between the arms of which a lever 2| is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 22.

Moreover, a U-shaped shoe or pad 23 is associated with the extension Hi, this being accomplished by providing the shoe 23 with a pair of opposed slots 2 to slidably accommodate the pin 22.

The lever 2| terminates at the pivoted end thereof, with a cam-surfaced portion 25 which is frictionally engageable with the closed end portion 28 of the shoe 23, substantially as shown.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by simply pressing the lever 21 in the direction of the arrow 27, the shoe 23 will be urged in the direction of the arrow 28, that is, toward the arm I5.

Finally, it should be explained that the arm I5 is provided with a suitable clamping screw 29, whereby the position of the arm may be set with respect to the bar II, as desired.

When the invention is placed in use, the clamp may be applied to the work, such as for example, to two spaced forms for pouring concrete, this being efiected by placing the arm I5 of the clamp adjacent one of the forms while the shoe or pad 23 is disposed adjacent the second form, as will be readily understood.

Needless to say, the distance between the shoe 23 and the arm I5 may be adjusted in accordance with the spacing of the two forms by simply loosening the screw 29 and sliding the arm [5 on the bar II.

Needless to say, during this pre-adjusting procedure, the lever 2| should be in a substantialll horizontal position, so that the shoe 23 may be slid as far as possible from the arm I 5. However, after the pre-adjustment is completed, the lever 2| may be depressed, thereby urging the shoe 23 against the form, so that the form-clamping operation is effected.

The clamp may be quickly and easily removed from the work, this being accomplished either by sliding the arm l5 toward the slot IT, or alternatively, by loosening the screw 19 and swinging the entire extension 18, together with the lever 2|, upwardly, as indicated at 30. In either event, the shoe 23 should first be released by swinging the lever 2| to an elevated position, as will be clearly apparent.

It is believed that the advantage when using the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what is claimed nected to one end of the bar and swingably adjustable in the plane of said bar and said clamp member, a transverse pin on said extension, a cam on said pin, and a clamping shoe engaged by said cam and having a work engaging surface opposing the work engaging surface of said clamp member, said shoe being provided with a slot to slidably and swingably receive said pin, whereby the respective work engaging surfaces of the shoe and of said clamp member may be parallel notwithstanding adjustment of said extension relative to said bar.

BERT T. GRESSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 792,758 Colt June 20, 1905 881,530 Barker Mar. 10, 1908 1,084,489 Schmutz Jan. 13, 1914 1,543,197 Ulrich June 23, 1925 

